The story of journey to the Trout Area World Championship

October 13, 2025

The story of the journey to the World Trout Area Championship began in the autumn of 2024, a moment that marked the start of my training sessions after a break of several months, and the equipping of my tackle box with various lures that I was missing, or wanted in duplicate, or even several pieces. From the very first training session on the lake shore, I had only one clear desire in mind: that of qualifying for the national team and representing Romania at the most important trout area competition, the 2025 World Trout Area Championship.

The World Championship will take place in Italy, in the province of Teramo, on Lake Vecchio Mulino. This lake is renowned for its large trout population as well as its tradition in competitive trout area fishing.

Povestea drumului catre campionatul modial de trout area incepe in toamna anului 2024, moment ce marcheaza inceputul antrenamentelor dupa o pauza de cateva luni, echiparea trusei cu diverse naluci ce imi lipseau sau le doream in dublura sau chiar mai multe bucati. Inca de la primul antrenament pe malul lacului am avut in cap o singura dorinta clara: aceea de a ma califica in lotul national si de a reprezentata Romania la cel mai important concurs de trout area, Campionatul Mondial de Trout Area 2025.

Campionatul Mondial are loc in Italia, provincia Teramo pe lacul Vecchio Mulino. Acest lac este recunoscut pentru populatia mare de pastrav cat si pentru traditia in pescuitul sportiv de trout area.

The equipment was fine-tuned, the training schedule was set, only one thing was missing, and that was the strategy. To be able to understand the strategy I implemented, I must tell you a little about the system of the national championship in Romania.

The national championship unfolds in a system of 7 competitions, with each competition contributing a specific score to the overall ranking. This system rewards consistency and strategic performance, not just isolated moments of success. Aware of this, I built a clear strategy based on the scoring system: to achieve at least 2 podium finishes and to consistently rank in the top 10. This strategy, tested and proven in previous years, offers real chances of qualifying for the national team. It seems it worked this time as well.

Echipamentul era pus la punct, programul antrenamentelor stabilit, un sigur lucru mai lipsea si anume strategia. Pentru a putea intelege strategia pe care am aplicat-o trebuie sa va povestesc putin de sistemul campionatului national din Romania.

Campionatul national se desfasoara intr-un sistem de 7 concursuri, fiecare concurs contribuind cu un punctaj specific pentru clasamentul general. Acest sistem recompenseaza constanta si performanta strategica, nu doar momentele de succes izolat. Constient de acest lucru, mi-am construit o strategie clara baza pe sistemul de punctare: sa obtin cel putin 2 clasari pe podium si sa ma clasez in mod constant in top 10. Aceasta strategie, testata si dovedita in anii anteriori ofera sanse realede calificare in lotul national. Se pare ca a functionat si de data aceasta.

For this adventure, I relied on the Artisan Competition rod series from the renowned Japanese manufacturer, Evergreen International, rods developed specifically for this style of fishing, which is very popular in Europe. Each rod model is developed for a specific lure model and technique, which offers me excellent versatility and precise control in every situation encountered on the water's edge.

With the plan well established and the equipment prepared down to the smallest detail, I spent many hours fishing on the water in the weeks leading up to the championship to practice techniques, understand the lures, and calibrate the reflexes necessary for trout area competitions.

Pentru aceasta aventura am mizat pe lansetele din gama Artisan Competition de la renumitul producator japonez Evergreen International, lansete dezvoltate special pentru acest stil de pescuit foarte popular in Europa. Fiecare model de lanseta este dezvoltat pentru un anumit model de naluca si tehnica, ceea ce imi ofera o versatilitate excelenta si un control precis in fiecare situatie intalnita pe malul apei.

Cu planul bine pus la punct si echipamentul pregatit in cele mai mici detalii, asa ca in urmatoarele saptamani de dinaintea campionatului, am petrecut multe ore pe apa la pescuit pentru a exersa tehnici, a intelege naluci si pentru a-mi calibra reflexele necesare in competitiile de trout area.

Here I was, at the first competition of the championship, filled with excitement and anticipation and a dream in my heart. A dream that seemed distant at the time, yet still possible. The first two competitions unfolded according to strategy: I achieved two 5th place finishes, which brought me very valuable points for the overall ranking. At the third competition, I managed to reach the podium, finishing in 3rd place. A result that validated my strategy and gave me the confidence that I was on the right track, and the dream was starting to take on an ever more beautiful shape.

At the end of the first half of the national championship, I was in 1st place in the overall ranking, a result that motivated me enormously and intensified my desire to fight for the objective set at the start of the season.

Iata-ma ajuns la primul concurs din campionat, cu emotii si nerabdare si cu un vis in inima. Un vis care parea departe la acea vreme dar totusi posibil. Primele doua concursuri au decurs conform strategiei: am obtinut doua clasari pe locul 5, care mi-au adus puncte foarte valoroase pentru clasamentul general. La concursul cu numarul trei amreusit sa urc pe podium, terminand pe locul 3. Un rezultat ce mi-a validat strategia si mi-a dat incredere ca sunt pe drumul cel bun si visul incepea sa prinda un contur tot mai frumos.

La finalul primei jumatati a campionatului national, ma aflam pe locul 1 in clasamentul general, rezultat ce ma motivat enorm si imi intarea dorinta de a lupta pentru obiectivul propus la inceputul sezonului.

The second part of the championship was not as good as the first, as I had some weaker placements where things didn't go as I expected. I had moments of doubt, but also episodes where luck and perseverance were on my side. Thus, before the last competition, I was in 2nd place in the overall ranking, a hard-earned but fragile position.

The final competition was decisive for many of us, it was the moment when dreams either became reality or were shattered. That day, I fished with all the passion, concentration, and experience accumulated over years of competition, and in the end, my dream became reality: I finished the National Championship in 3rd place in the overall ranking, thus securing qualification for the Romanian national team for the 2025 World Trout Area Championship in Italy.

Partea a doua a campionatului nu a fost la fel de buna ca prima, urmand cateva clasari mai slabe, in care lucrurile nu au mers cum ma asteptam. Am avut momente de indoiala dar si episoade in care norocul si perseverenta au fost de partea mea. Astfel, inainte de ultimul concurs ma aflam pe locul 2 in clasamentul general, o pozitie muncita dar si fragila.

Ultimul concurs a fost decisiv pentru multi dintre noi, era momentul in care visele deveneau realitate sau erau spulberate. In acea zi am pescuit cu toata pasiunea, concentrarea si experienta acumulata in anii de competitie, iar in final visul meu a devenit realitate: am incheiat Campionatul National pe locul 3 in clasamentul general, obtinand astfel calificarea in echipa nationala a Romaniei pentru Campionatul Mondial de Trout Area 2025 din Italia

This achievement is the result of constant work, a well-thought-out strategy, top-tier equipment, and, last but not least, a passion for competitive fishing. A new chapter follows: preparation for the World Championship. I will continue to keep you updated on my progress and I hope that my story will inspire other passionate anglers to believe in their dreams.

Aceasta reusita este rodul muncii constante, al unei strategii bine gandite, al unui echipament de top si, nu in ultimul rand, al pasiunii pentru pescuitul sportiv. Urmeaza un nou capitol: pregatirea pentru Mondial. Voi continua sa va tin la curent cu evolutia mea si sper ca povestea mea sa inspire si alti pescari pasionati sa creada in visurile lor.